Bucket holder

ABSTRACT

A bucket holder is disclosed including a base plate ( 102 ) with apertures ( 104 ), a first frame structure ( 106 ) and a second frame structure ( 116 ) that are both adapted to receive standard-sized buckets ( 90 ). The bucket holder is intended to stabilize the buckets during mixing and similar activities. The first and second frame structures comprise upright supports ( 108 ) that attach at one end to the base plate, and a circular member ( 110 ) that attaches to the opposite end of the upright supports. The frame structures are joined with a transverse member ( 112 ), and a centrally located handle ( 120 ) is sized and positioned to locking engage the bucket pivotable handle ( 93 ). By placing buckets in both of the frame structures, the bucket being mixed is stabilized by the weight of the bucket holder and second bucket, and also by the edges of the base plate around the apertures engaging the ground.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application60/795,636, filed on Apr. 26, 2006, the disclosure of which is herebyexpressly incorporated by reference in its entirety, and priority fromthe filing date of which is hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. § 119.

BACKGROUND

A variety of construction materials of very thick consistency aretypically shipped, sold and/or used in relatively large buckets. Astandard-sized bucket for such materials is a five gallon bucket, whichis typically constructed of a polymeric material. The buckets typicallyhave a wire handle or the like pivotably attached near the top edge,that can be used for carrying the bucket. Five gallon buckets ofcoating, patching, and/or adhering materials are very common onconstruction cites. Such construction materials frequently requireextensive mixing, agitating and/or thinning prior to use. Examples ofthick construction materials that may require in situ mixing include,tile grouts, heavy paints and other surface coating materials, cementsand the like, drywall texturing, fireproofing materials, roof coatingsand sound proofing and acoustic materials.

In situ mixing of construction materials is typically accomplished usingan electric tool such as a drill fitted with a mixing attachment, whichmay be shaped like a paddle. Other power mixing tools may alternativelybe used. A common problem with mixing high viscosity materials, however,is that the force exerted on the material by the mixing tool istransferred in part through the material to the bucket, which can causethe bucket to rotate. This reduces the ability of the mixing tool to mixthe material, increases the work required by the operator, and increasesthe risk of waste and potentially hazardous conditions if the buckettips over, is damaged by the mixing tool, or otherwise spills a portionof its contents. The bucket may also be moved or upset by forces fromthe mixing tool directly on the surface of the bucket during mixing,which can cause spillage, and hazardous or inconvenient messes in thework space.

In order to effectively mix the material, the user typically mustattempt to hold the bucket in a stable and fixed fashion to prevent theproblems mentioned above. For example, a worker may attempt to steadythe bucket by simply holding the bucket between the worker's legs whilemixing. This method, however, is awkward and potentially injurious tothe user. Moreover, attempting to manually restrain the bucket duringmixing can be ineffective, resulting in spillage or the like.

Recognizing the problems associated with such in situ mixing, a numberof inventors have proposed various solutions. For example, in U.S. Pat.No. 7,018,090, Moore discloses a device for holding a bucket thatincludes upper and lower rings that are interconnected withsubstantially planar vertical members oriented with an edge extendinginwardly. The inward edge of the vertical members are intended to engagethe bucket, and thereby limit rotational motion of the bucket duringmixing. A disadvantage of the device disclosed by Moore is that it isapproximately symmetric about the axis of rotation, and may thereforehave a tendency to rotate during mixing. Also, the device has aparticular orientation that is intended to limit rotational motion inone direction (clockwise in the disclosed embodiment), which may beinconvenient in some circumstances.

In U.S. Pat. No. 6,779,915, Foster, Jr. discloses a five-gallon bucketholder platform having an elevated top surface with an aperture sized toreceive and frictionally retain a bucket for mixing. A disadvantage ofthis device is its size and relative non-portability, as well as hazardsassociated with a user standing on the elevated platform.

SUMMARY

A bucket holder is disclosed that is particularly suitable forapplications such as construction where more than one large buckets(e.g., five-gallon buckets) containing materials requiring mixing areavailable. The disclosed apparatus enables the user to stabilize thebucket during mixing by taking advantage of the availability of a secondbucket to secure the first bucket. The bucket holder is intended toprevent the bucket from spinning, and to avoid potential tipping andspillage. The bucket holder includes a base plate supporting at leasttwo frame structures that are sized to receive the buckets. The framestructures each include upright supports that extend upwardly from thebase plate, and a circular support rigidly attached at the distal end ofthe upright supports. The circular support may be formed in multiplepieces. A transverse member connects the two frame structures, and ahandle extends up from the transverse support. The handle is positionedto engage the conventional pivotable handle on the buckets, therebylocking the buckets against spinning.

In one embodiment the circular supports are made in multiple distinctparts separated by a gap, and the circular supports are positioned toprovide a clamping force on the bucket placed in the associated framestructure resulting from elastic flexure of the upright supports.

In an embodiment of the invention the bucket holder is formed from amild steel, and the base plate includes a plurality of aperturestherethrough. The apertures provide additional leverage against movementduring mixing, especially when the bucket holder is positioned on unevenground.

In an embodiment of the invention, the handle includes a lower portionthat extends between the base plate and the transverse member, the upperend defining a socket, and a removable upper portion that is adapted tobe inserted into the socket.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This summary is not intended to identify key features ofthe claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid indetermining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of thisinvention will become more readily appreciated as the same become betterunderstood by reference to the following detailed description, whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective environmental view of a bucket holder accordingto the present in invention, showing two buckets disposed in the bucketholder in phantom;

FIG. 2 is a perspective isolation view of the bucket holder shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the bucket holder shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a front view of the bucket holder shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Refer now to FIG. 1, which shows an environmental view of a bucketholder 100 made in accordance with the present invention. The bucketholder 100 retains two conventional five-gallon buckets 90, 90′, side byside, each of the buckets 90, 90′ having a pivotable handle 93. Asdiscussed above, often in construction applications buckets 90, 90′contain materials 91 that require mixing or the like prior to use.Typically a user will use a power mixing apparatus 92, for example apower drill 94 with a paddle or other mixing attachment 95. The end ofthe mixing attachment 95 is placed into the bucket 90 and rotated by thepower drill 94 to agitate and mix the materials 91 therein.

Refer now also to FIG. 2 showing the bucket holder 100 in isolation, andto FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, which show a plan view and a front view of thebucket holder 100, respectively.

The bucket holder 100 includes a generally rectangular base plate 102that is sized to accommodate at least two conventional five-gallonbuckets 90. The base plate 102 includes apertures 104 located togenerally underlie portions of the buckets 90, but sized such that thebase of the bucket will not extend through the associated aperture 104.The apertures reduce the weight and material requirements for the bucketholder 100, making the empty bucket holder 100 more easilytransportable. In the disclosed embodiment the apertures 104 arerectangular for simplicity and for ease of manufacture, but other shapesmay alternatively be used, including for example multiple smallerapertures, grid structures, thinned regions or the like. In addition tolowering the overall weight of the bucket holder 100, when the bucketholder 100 is placed on the ground the apertures 104 may engage portionsof the underlying ground, thereby which will further resist movement ofthe bucket holder 100 when acted on by an external transverse force suchas by the mixing apparatus 92.

A first frame structure 106 and a second frame structure 116 are rigidlyattached to the base plate 102. The first and second frame structures106, 116 each include a plurality of upright supports 108. The uprightsupports 108 have a proximal end 108A that is rigidly attached to thebase plate 102, and a distal end 108B disposed away from the base plate102. A two-piece support ring 110 is rigidly attached to the distal ends108B of upright supports 108 for each of the frame structures 106 116.Although a two-piece support ring 110 is shown and currently preferred,it will be appreciated that more or fewer pieces may alternatively beused. The support ring 110 is sized to receive the five gallon bucket90, such that the bucket 90 rests on the base plate. An advantage of themultiple-piece support ring 110, disposed at or near the top or distalends 108B of the upright supports 108 is that the portions of thesupport ring 110 can move relative to each other by elastic bending ofthe upright supports 108. Therefore the support ring 110 can providesome clamping force on the bucket 90 and/or the tolerances inmanufacturing the structure can be relaxed due to the flexibility of thedesign.

A transverse connecting member 112 is rigidly attached to each of thecircular supports 110, preferably generally at a centered location. Inthe current embodiment the transverse connecting member 112 includes acenter aperture 114. An elongate handle 120 extends from a proximal end120A rigidly connected to the base plate 102 and through the connectingmember center aperture 114. A curved portion 122 of the handle 120extends above the first and second frame structures 106, 116.

In the disclosed embodiment, the handle includes a lower portion 124that is rigidly attached to the base plate 102, and having a distalsocket 126 that extends to the center aperture 114 of the transverseconnecting member 112, where it is rigidly attached. A separable upperhandle portion 128 is sized to fit into the socket 126, and may belocked thereto, for example with a bolt 127 extending through a wall ofthe socket 116. The removable handle makes the bucket holder 100 moreeasily transported, and allows a user to orient the upper handle portion128 in any convenient orientation.

In a current construction, the various parts of the bucket holder 100are made from a weldable material, such as steel. The upright supports108 and handle 120 are welded to the base plate 102, the circularmembers 110 are welded to the distal end of the upright supports 108,and the transverse connecting member 112 is welded to the circularmembers 110, and to the socket 126 on the lower portion 124 of thehandle 120. It will be appreciated that the circular members 110 areformed in two separate semi-circular portions, which provides someflexibility in the first and second frame structures 106, 116, and makesthe construction of the bucket holder 100 simpler. Although it is notcurrently preferred, it is contemplated that the separate portions ofthe circular members 110 could be joined with a spring element (notshown) that are sized such that the circular member 110 applies aclamping force on a conventional five gallon bucket 90 when insertedtherein.

Referring again to FIG. 1, when a bucket 90 is set into the one of firstand second frame structures 106, 116, the bucket 90 is retained by theassociated frame structure 106 or 116. The pivotable bucket handle 93for the bucket 90 to be mixed is placed over the bucket holder handle120, to prevent or limit the rotation of the bucket 90 during mixing.The bucket holder 100 stabilizes the bucket 90 for mixing and inparticular prevents the bucket from spinning or tipping, as discussed inmore detail below.

It can now be understood that an important aspect of the bucket holder100 is that it is configured to hold two buckets simultaneously. In atypical application, such as a construction site or the like, many fullor partially-filled five gallon buckets 90 are typically available. Manyprior art bucket holders require that the user physically prevent thebucket holder (and therefore the bucket) from spinning or otherwisemoving during the mixing operation. For example, some prior art bucketholders require the user stand on, or lean against, the bucket holder toprevent the bucket from moving. This can require the user to take anunnatural and/or uncomfortable stance while operating the power mixingapparatus 92, which can result in injury and/or unnecessary fatigue overthe course of a work day.

The intended use of the bucket holder 100 will now be described withreference to FIG. 1. The bucket holder 100 is first transported to thedesired location, typically without any bucket 90 retained thereon. Theuser then places a first bucket 90 to be mixed in the first framestructure 106, and a second bucket 90′ in the second frame structure116. The second bucket 90′ provides a weight to prevent the bucketholder 100 from spinning or otherwise moving during mixing the materialin the first bucket 90. The curved portion 122 of the handle 122 issized and positioned such that the handle 93 of the first bucket 90 canbe readily placed over the curved portion 122 of the handle 120 when thefirst bucket 90 is placed in the frame structure 106, to precluderotation of the first bucket 90 during mixing. Of course, if thematerial 91 in the second bucket 90 is also needed, the user mayconveniently mix the contents of the second bucket 90′ after mixing thecontents of the first bucket 90. In general, it is contemplated that thebucket holder 100 would not be intended for use in transporting fullbuckets 90, but rather is intended to provide stability during mixing.

The holder 100 may conveniently be made from metal, such as steel, andincludes a base plate 108, and a pair of spring-loaded split hoops orrings 102 that are disposed upwardly from the base plate 108, andattached thereto by a plurality of vertical rods 110. The split rings102 are each joined at two locations with spring elements 114, such thatthe portions of the split rings 102 are movable away from each other toaccommodate a bucket. It will also be appreciated that elasticdeformation of the vertical rods 110 supporting the rings 102 may beused to produce a clamping force on the bucket 90 by urging the ring 102portions towards each other. Other attachment mechanisms mayalternatively be utilized, including for example, adjustable springmembers and overlapping split rings, such that the holder mayaccommodate buckets of differing sizes. Also, other suitable materialsmay be used for construction of the holder 100, including for example,rigid plastics and the like.

By way of example, and not limitation, the current embodiment is formedprimarily from mild steel, the base plate 102 is a 3/16-inch plateapproximately 27 inches long and 12.25 inches wide, with twosymmetrically-disposed apertures 104 that are approximately 10.5 incheslong and 8 inches wide. The upright supports 108 are formed from ⅜-inchRB stock, and are approximately 8⅜-inch long. The support ring 110 isalso formed from ⅜-inch RB. Currently preferred dimensions and materialsare shown in the FIGURES as a guide to the currently preferredembodiment, and are not intended to be limiting to the invention.However, it will be apparent that the diameter of the rings 102 shouldbe selected to be slightly less than the functional diameter of thebucket to be retained therein, such that the rings 102 will exert aclamping force on the retained bucket during use.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, it will be appreciated that various changes can be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.For example, the handle structure may be changed without departing fromthe present invention. However, it is desirable that the handle be sizedand positioned to readily engage the bucket handle when the bucket isretained by the frame structure 106.

1. A bucket holder adapted to hold two buckets having pivotable handles,the bucket holder comprising: a base plate; a first frame structurecomprising a first upright support having a proximal end rigidlyattached to the base plate and a distal end disposed away from the baseplate, and a circular support rigidly attached to the distal end of thefirst upright support; a second frame structure comprising a secondupright support having a proximal end rigidly attached to the base plateand a distal end disposed away from the base plate, and a circularsupport rigidly attached to the distal end of the second uprightsupport; a transverse member connecting the circular support of thefirst frame structure to the circular support of the second framestructure; an elongate handle having a proximal end rigidly attached tothe base plate, and a distal end extending through the transversemember, the distal end defining a handle portion such that the bucketholder is movable by lifting on the handle.
 2. The bucket holder ofclaim 1, wherein the base plate further comprises a plurality ofapertures.
 3. The bucket holder of claim 1, wherein the first framestructure comprise a plurality of first upright supports, and whereinthe circular support for the first frame structure is rigidly attachedto all of the plurality of first upright supports.
 4. The bucket holderof claim 3, wherein the first frame structure circular support comprisesa plurality of circular arc potions, each circular arc portion beingseparated from other circular arc portions forming gaps therebetween. 5.The bucket holder of claim 4, wherein the plurality of circular arcportions of the circular support comprise two semicircular portions. 6.The bucket holder of claim 4, wherein the first frame structure is sizedsuch that the circular arc portions exert a clamping force on thereceived bucket due to elastic bending of the upright first uprightsupports.
 7. The bucket holder of claim 1, wherein the base, first andsecond upright supports, and circular supports are formed from a mildsteel.
 8. The bucket holder of claim 1, wherein the elongate handle ofthe bucket holder is sized and positioned to lockingly engage thepivotable handle of at least one of the two buckets.
 9. The bucketholder of claim 8, wherein the elongate handle comprises a lower portionhaving a first end attached to the base plate and a second end thatengages the transverse member, and forms a socket, and an upper portionthat is adapted to be inserted into the socket.
 10. The bucket holder ofclaim 9, further comprising means for locking the upper portion of thehandle into the socket.
 11. The bucket holder of claim 9, wherein theupper portion of the elongate handle is curved to include a horizontalportion.